Sealed end ice cream carton



May 24, 1966 R. M. HOLMES SEALED END ICE CREAM CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. l2, 1964 27h INVENTOR. RAYNOR M. HOLMES ATTORNEY May 24, 1966 R. M. HOLMES SEALED END ICE CREAM CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1964 FIG. e

INVENTOR. RAYNOR M. HOLMES W/wdgw ATTORNEYS May 24, 1966 R. M. HOLMES SEALED END ICE CREAM CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. l2, 1964 FIG 9 umk ,man

27h 27 INVENTOR. RAYNoR M. HOLMES FIG.8

BY WM ...f ATTORNEY May 24, 1966 R. M. HOLMES SEALED END ICE CREAM CARTON Filed Nov. l2, i964 FIG. I2

INVENTOR. RAYNO R M. HOLMES www ATTORNEYS United States Patent Otilice 3,252,651 Patented May 24, 1966 3,252,651 SEALED END ICE CREAM CARTON Raynor M. Holmes, Decatur, Ga., assigner to Riegel Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 410,573 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Sept. 14, 1982, has been disclaimed 14 Claims. (Cl. 229--51) This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 215,602, tiled August 8, 1962, now Patent No, 3,206,ll. The present invention relates to paperboard cartons or containers for various products, including, specifically, ice cream. In particular, the invention is directed to specific and substantial improvements in carton structure for ice cream and the like of the type which are sealed at the ends, after filling, and are thereafter opened and reclosed from the top.

In the packaging of ice cream, particularly, it is conventional to ll the containers from one end, and it has been common in the past to make ice cream cartons of end-opening construction, so that the contents of the package were accessible to the consumer through the carton end. It has been considered desirable, for some time, to so design ice cream cartons that, after filling, the carton ends were permanently sealed, with access to the contents being had through the top of the carton. However, notwithstanding the generally acknowledged desirability of the sealed end, top opening ice cream carton, such cartons have not yet enjoyed complete commercial acceptance, because of unexpected complications in the actual carton design, which have resulted in the packages including disadvantageous features. The present invention provides a sealed-end top opening ice cream carton which obviates certain disadvantages of prior constructions.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a novel and improved top opening, sealed end carton is provided, which is economical to manufacture and ideally suited, structurally, for the intended end use and which, at the same time, has an especially desirable and advantageous external appearance.

Another specific aspect of the invention resides in the provision of a top opening, sealed end carton, including a chest-type hinged cover integrally connected to the body of the carton, which is so constructed that the external surfaces of the carton are Smooth and continuous. In this respect, the carton of the invention incorporates special closing flaps which, when the carton is filled and sealed, present a substantially uninterrupted, smooth outer surface. Thus, with the improved construction of the invention, not only does the package have ay substantially more pleasing outward appearance than is usual for a top-opening ice cream carton, but the packagers advertising, brand identification, etc., may be more effectively and pleasingly presented on the substantially continuous, smooth outer surfaces of the carton.

A commercially acceptable top-opening carton, in addition to possessing a pleasant appearance and being simply openable by a consumer, must be readily llable in existing packaging machinery, such as, for example, the so-called Anderson machines. Thus an acceptable carton tube must, when squared, have end closing flaps articulated to each of the four side walls, one of which flaps must be of full carton depth and all of which liaps must be readily, sequentially inwardly foldable to seal the end structure. However, to provide a top-opening telescopically reclosable, chest-type cover in an ice cream carton of the type described, it is necessary to include more than four flaps in the completed end structure for adequate support and sealing. Consequently, difficulties may be experienced in the folding and gluing of the multiple flaps of such cartons and the formation of tubes from which such cartons may be readily erected.

Accordingly, as an important specific yaspect of the invention, a novel end structure has been provided which completely and effectively seals and reinforces the carton before and after opening and which lends itself to use in existing machinery. This aspect of the invention resides in the provision of a novel top opening, sealed end carton having a chest-type hinged cover, and full depth front and end walls, and which includes a special, novel reinforcing construction for otherwise unsupported, upwardly projecting flaps of the full depth. Specifically, small discontinuous, reinforcing tabs are provided on the carton front wall panel and are specially constructed and arranged to be free of overlying full-height end aps before end sealing but, if desired, to be adhered thereto after end sealing.

In accordance with the invention, the new carton incorporates novel reinforcing tabs foldably connected to the opposite end edges of the carton front wall panel and cooperable with the end wall panels, the reinforcing tabs being so specially arranged in the combination as to `remain unattached from other flaps and panels of the carton, at least until the carton is closed and sealed after filling. The significance of keeping the reinforcing tabs free at least until after final closing and sealing may be understood when considering the fact that the resistance to folding of paperboard material increases according to the third power of increases in thickness, so that significant difficulties will be encountered due to bending resistance, distortions, etc., if the reinforcing tabs were adhesively secured to the overlying flaps prior to folding of these flaps inwardly at right angles in the sealing of the carton. The reinforcing tabs of the new cart0n are so constructed and arranged with the remaining elements of the carton that a flattened tube may be formed with the use of conventional glue wheels and like continuous adhesive applicators. Thus, in Iaccordance with specific principles of the invention, the reinforcing tabs are arranged in non-intersecting relation with the glue line which adheres the front wall panel of the carton blank to an overlying front closing panel, to form a attened tube. In the carton of the invention, the front cover panel has a tear strip for freeing the cover, and the reinforcing tabs extend into intersecting relation with permanently secured, lower portions of the front closing panel and remain in place and fully functional when the carton cover is opened. With this inventive arrangement,

the flat blanks may have a glue strip applied in a continuous manner to side walls without applying glue to the reinforcing flaps which are to be later folded along with other end aps in the subsequent sealing of the carton.

As will be appreciated, folding and joining of the side walls to form the carton tube will not result in the joining of the reinforcing flaps and the other superimposed end aps.

For a better understanding of the above and other advantageous features of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used in the forming of a carton incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 1 in a partly folded condition illustrating the manner in which the blank is formed into a tiattened tube preparatory for shipment to a packager;

F IG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. l completely folded into a flattened tube and in the condition in which it is shipped to a packager;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end of a carton after it has been squared and filled and during the sealing thereof; f

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the new carton with its ends completely sealed;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the new carton with its tear strip removed and with the top opening cover in a partly opened condition;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified blank used in the forming of a carton incorporating the features of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the modified blank of FIG. 1 in a partly folded condition illustrating the manner in which the blank is formed into a flattened tube preparatory for shipment to a packager;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the modified blank of FIG. 1 completely folded into Aa fiattened tube and in the condit-ion in which it is shipped to a packager;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an end of a modified carton after it has been squared and filled and during the sealing thereof;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the modified carton with its ends completely sealed;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the modified carton with its tear strip -removed and with the top opening cover in a partly opened condition;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank incorporating an alternate construction of a reinforcing tab embodying the principles of the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an end of a squared carton tube including the alternate reinforcing tab Iconstruction of FIG. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, the reference nume-ral 10 designates generally a blank of paperboard or other foldable sheet material, which is divided longitudinally by score lines 11, 12 and transversely by score llines 13-16 to form a plurality of flaps and panels. At the left of the blank, as viewed in FIG. 1, there is formed a front wall panel 17, to which a bottom wall panel 18 is foldably connected along the score line 13. A back wall panel 19 is foldably connected to the bottom wall along the score line 14; a cover panel 20 is connected to the back wall panel along the score line and a front closing panel 21 is connected to the cover panel along the score line 16.

Foladbly connected to the opposite end edges of the bottom wall panel, along the score lines 11, 12 are opposed full depth end wall panels 22, 23, the size and shape of which are such as to substantially completely close the end of the carton, as will be apparent. A pair of tapered cover end flaps 24, 25 are foldably connected, also along the score lines 11, 12, to the opposite end edges of the cover panel 20.

At each end edge of the front closing panel 21, there are provided foldably connected end closing flaps 26, 27 which, for convenience of reference, may be referred to as front end closing flaps. A second pair of end closing flaps 28, 29, identified for convenience as back end closing flaps, are foldably connected to the end edges of the back wall panel 19.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the connected front closing panel and front end closing flaps 21, 26, 27 are divided into upper and lower sections, identified for convenience as sections 21a, 2lb, 26a, 26b, 27a, 2717, respectively, by a rupturable integral connection, advantageously in the form of a continuous, zipper-like tear strip 30. Likewise, the back end closing aps 28, 29 are divided intro upper and lower sections 28a, 28b, 29a, 29b, by means of a rupturable integral connection, advantageously in the form of discontinuous cuts 31, 32 which terminate, at their respective inner ends, in substantial alignment with the score line 15 and extend outward and somewhat downward (as related to the erected and closed carton) from their inner end termini.

In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the front wall panel 17 is provided at its opposite end edges with reinforcing tabs 33, 34 which are foldably connected along score lines 35, 36, respectively. Significantly, t-he lower (as related to the erected carton) edges 33a, 34a of the reinforcing tabs are spaced well above the bottom edge of the front wall panel as defined by the socre lines 13, 17, but at least slightly below the upper edge of the closing panel portion 2lb. As will subsequently be apparaent, the described configuration of the reinforcing flaps 33, 34 enables these flaps to remain free and unattached at least until the final sealing of the carton.

It is conventional practice to form the blank 10 into a flattened tube 50 (FIG. 3), at the place of manufacture. The flattened tubes then can be shipped conveniently and in compact form to the packager who, inI this instance, typically will be an ice cream packager and/or manufacturer. At the packagers plant, the tube is squared, one end is closed, and the contents (e.g., ice cream) are introduced through the other, still opened end, which is thereafter closed and the entire carton 4is sealed. Advantageously, the sealing required at the packagers plant is performed by so-called heat sealing techniques, rather than with adhesives, since this obviates the necessity of the packager installing and maintaining adhesive applying equipment. When the more desirable heat-sealing techniques are employed, heat seal composition is applied in appropriate patterns during the original blank manufacturing operations, as will be described.

In the formation of the blank 10 into a flattened tube 50, as mentioned above, the blank may be folded first -along Ithe score line 14 (FIG. 2) and thereafter along the score line 16, so that the front closing panel 21 completely overlies the front wall panel 17, as shown in FIG. 3. In accordance with the invention, immediately previous to the folding operation, a narrow :strip 37 of conventional adhesive is applied along the outer surface of the front wall panel 17, adjacent the lower edge score line 13 and, in any event, along a predetermined axis 38 below the lower edges 33a, 34a of the respective reinforcing tabs 33, 34. With this arrangement, the adhesive strip 37 may be applied rapidly and economically in a continuous manner, yby a conventional adhesive -applicator wheel commonly used in carton fabrication. Thus, as an important -aspect of the invention, when the front closing panel 21 is folded over the front -wall panel 17 (FIG. 3), the lower 1section 2lb of the closing panel is adhesively secured to the lower portion of the front wall panel 17, while remaining completely free of the reinforcing tabs 33, 34. The novel and advantgaeous end construction of the new carton (which is substantially identical and is closed in the same manner at both ends) is illustrated yin detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thus, referring initially to FIG. 4, the closing of the carton end is initiated by :squaring the tube 50 and then folding the end wall panel 22 at right angles to the bottom wall panel 18, the dimensions of the end wall panels 22, 23 being such as to substantially completely close off the entire end of the squared tube. After fold-ing of the end wall panel 22, the cover end flap 24 is folded down to overlie an upper margin of the panel 22, whereupon the end closing flaps 26 and 28 are folded inward, over the end wall panel 22 and `cover end flap 24.

In accordance with one significant aspect of the invention, the reinforcing tab 33 which, prior to closing and sealing of the carton, is attached only along the score line 35, is folded inward by the front end closing flap 26, so as to overlie the upper front lcorner portion of the end wall panel 22 while underlying the front end closing flap 26. And, specifically, the vertical extent of the reinforcing tab 33 is such that a portion thereof underlies the lower section 26b of the flap 26, while the upepr portion of the tab 33 extends upwardly, as close as practicable, to the upper edge of the end wall panel 22.

In the carton illustrated in FIGS. l-6, the upper sections 26a, 28a of the end closing flaps 26, 28 are ysecured to the cover end ap 24 while remaining free of all other flaps and panels of the carton. The lower flap sections 26h and 28h are secured solely to the end wall panel 22. For this purpose, specifically limited areas of hot melt bonding composition' are provided on the inside surfaces of the end closing flaps 26, 28, the flap section 26a having an applied pattern 39 of composition arranged to engage only the outer surface -of the cover end flap 24 and to avoid the reinforcing tabs 33, while the lower flap 26h advantageously may be provided with a corresponding pattern 40 of bonding composition arranged for contact with the end wall panel 22. Likewise, the end closing flap 28 is provided with patterns 41, 42 of bonding composition on the upper and lower sections 28a, 28h, respectively, both of which are arranged to contact the end wall panel 22. However, the upper pattern 4l contacts the end wall panel only in a limited generally triangular area between the tapered edge of the cover end ap 24 and back wall 19, and it also contacts the cover end flap 24, itself.

The bonding composition applied in the patterns 394, as described, may comprise a suitable conventional adhesive, if desired. However, it usually is more advantageous to utilize an appropriate hot melt, heat scalable bonding composition, since the heat seal-able composition may be applied by the carton manufacturer, whereas an adhesive composition for this purpose normally would have to be applied `by the packager. Utilizing a heat seal bonding composition for the end closure, the packagers lling machinery conventionally is modified to :include suitable heat applicators, which are pressed momentarily against the closed ends of the folded carton, to effect the heat seal bond and permanently close the carton.

It should be particularly noted that the end closing flaps 26-29 are of such length as to be brought into abutting, non-overlapping relation in the closing of the carton, so that the end surface of the carton is substantially smooth and continuous. Likewise, the front closing panel 21 provides a smooth and continuous front surface for the completed carton. This is a particularly advantageous practical feature of the preferred embodiment of the improved carton, since it not only imparts a particularly pleasing outward appearance to the carton, but also facilitates greatly the ability of the packager to print desired lbrand identification, decorative or advertising designs, or other inform-ation on the exterior of the carton.

To gain access to the contents of the completed container, generally designated lby numeral 51 (FIG. 6), the tear strip 30 is removed to free the upper sections 21a, 26a, 27a, which form depending front and end walls of the container cover 52. The cover can then 'be gripped by its front edge and raised, as shown in FIG. 6, whereupon the back end closing aps 2S, 29 will separate along the cut scores 31, 32, the upper flap sections 28a, 29a then forming part of the cover end walls.

In opening, the cover structure hinges about the score line so that the contents of the package are accessible directly from the top of the container. It wil be noted that the front wall panel 17 and end wall panels 22, 23 remain intact and attached to the lower part Iof the carton body, so that the opened carton has full height front and side Walls. And, in accordance with one of the aspects of the invention, the otherwise unsupported upwardly extending portions of the front and end wall panels are reinforced and closed at the corners by the novel reinforcing tabs 33, 34, specifically as illustrated in FIG. 6. (FIGS. 5 and 6 show only one end of the Carton, ybut it will be understood that the construction -is similar at the opposite end.) Thus, in the open carton, as shown in FIG. 6, the reinforcing tab 33, which will be held infolded at right angles to the front wall 17 by the lower section 26b of the `front end closing iiap, imparts substantial rigidity and support to the front wall and is disposed in overlapping relation to the upper front corner area of the end wall panel 22 to support the latter panel against outward movement.

As the particular feature of the invention, the reinforcing tabs 33, 34 extend downward sufficiently so that sub- 6 y stantial lower end portions thereof are overlapped and held :by the lower iiap sections 26b, 27h; however, the tabs terminate suiiciently above the lower edge of the carton to enable the front closing panel to be adhesively secured along its lower edge to the front `wall panel 1'7, using a conventional adhesive wheel applicator and at the same time keeping the reinforcing tabs 33, 34 free of the end closing iiaps. As discussed hereinabove, the significance of keeping the reinforcing tabs 33, 3d independent until final closing Vand sealing is to permit their ready infolding in the packaging machinery. Since the resistance to folding of the paperboard blank material increases according to the third power of increases in thickness, packaging diiiiculties might otherwise be experienced due to bending resistance, distortions, etc., if the reinforcing tabs were adhesively secured to the overlying end closing flaps prior to folding o-f these aps inwardly at right angles to the panels 17 and 21 in the sealing of the carton.

Advantageously, the tear strip 3) is designed to be removed progressively from one end to the other, in a manner suggestive of the action of a zipper and, in the illustrated carton, the tear strip 3) is intended to be disengaged first at the end lying in the iiap 26 (see FIG. 5). For this purpose, the end extremity 30a of the tear strip is enlarged and made easily engageable by the fingers, and a recess 43 is formed in the end closing ap 28, directly opposite the end of the tear strip 30a to facilitate access thereto. No corresponding recess is provided at the opposite end of the carton, so that the opposite end of the tear strip is not freely accessible and the consumer is encouraged to start removal of the tear strip at the desired end, 30a. In all other respects, as will be understood, the structure of the opposite ends of the carton advantageously is symmetrical.

In an alternate preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-12, a modied blank 100, similar in most respects to blank 10, is employed. For the sake of brevity and clarity of description, elements of the blank corresponding to those of the blank 10 will be designated by the same reference numerals. As shown, the blank 10G includes pairs of front and rear end closing aps 27429, 26-128 which are of suicient length to overlap (rather than abut) one another in the erected and sealed carton. Cover flaps 124, 12S are provided with adhesive patterns 126, 127 along their bottom edges, and the lower front panel closing flaps 26b, 27b are provided with adhesive patterns at the free ends thereof. The end closing flap 26 of the blank 100 has a recess 143 adjacent the end 130:1 of the tear strip 30 to facilitate its grasping. AS will be understood, the blank 100 is designed for an alternate sequence of folding to provide a modified topopening, telescopically, reclosable carton 151 (FIGS. 11 and l2) embodying the inventive concepts elaborated hereinabove.

The blank 100 is formed into a flattened tube 15? (FIG. 9) by folding it first along the score line 14 (FIG. 8) and thereafter along the score line 16 so that the front closing panel 21 completely overlies the front wall panel 17, as shown in FIG. 9. It will be appreciated that the tube is formed in the identical fashion as the previously described tube 50. Thus, in accordance with the invention, a narrow strip 137 of adhesive or glue is applied along the outer surface of the front wall 17 along a predetermined axis 138 (FIG. 7) which lies below the lower edges 33a, 34a of the reinforcing tabs 33, 34. In the illustrated carton, the lower edge of the adhesive strip 137 lies slightly above the lower edge of the front wall 17, but the upper edge of the strip is disposed below and in a non-intersecting relation with the reinforcing tabs 33, 34 in accordance with the inventive principles.

With the described arrangement of adhesive strip and reinforcing tabs, as explained hereinafter, a conventional glue wheel or like adhesive applicator may be used to apply the tube forming adhesive strip 137 in a rapid,

continuous and economical manner. At the same time, this particular relationship enables the lower section 2lb of the front closing panel to be adhesively secured to the lower section of the front wall panel, while the aps and tabs articulated to each of those panels remain substantially free of one another, since the adhesive is applied to the front panel along a strip which is below or otherwise non-intersecting of the reinforcing tabs 33, 34.

The modified carton is completed by squaring the tube 151B, as shown in FIG. 10, and thereafter first folding full depth end panel 22 to substantially close the end. Thereafter, the rear end flap 128 is folded inwardly at right angles to the rear wall 19, and the reinforcing flap 33 and the overlying front end closing flap 26 are then similarly infolded. The lower portion 26h of the front closing flap overlies and ultimately is adhered to the rear closing flap 128 by the adhesive 140. The end structure of the cartonis completed by the infolding of the cover flap 124 and the subsequent adhering thereof to the upper portion 26a of the front closing flap by means of the heat-seal adhesive 126, to form a completed end closure as shown in FIG. 1l. After filling, the opposite end of the carton is `closed in a similar sequence of operations, and then both ends of the carton are sealed closed by application of heat to the heat-seal adhesive areas.

In some applications, such as in the packaging of ice milk, for example, it has been found desirable, in order to prevent leakage at the front corners of the carton, to provide a modified reinforcing tab embodying the attributes of the above-described reinforcing tabs but also including a corner sealing portion. To that end and as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a modified structure is provided which is in most respects similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-6. Accordingly, those elements which are common to both structures will be identified with the same reference numerals employed hereinabove.

The modified blank 250 (FIG. 13) includes reinforcing tab 234 articulated to the front wall panel 17 along a score line 35. The blank 250 is symmetrical and generally corresponds to the blank of FIG. 1, thus, the

non-illustrated reinforcing tab on the opposite end of they panel 17 is a mirror-image of the tab 234. As shown, the tab 234 includes an upper section 234er, which corresponds in shape and function to the above-described tabs 33, 34 and is disposed above an axis 238 along which an adhesive strip is deposited in the formation of the `carton tube in the manner described.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, the modified reinforcing tab 234 is provided with a lower section 234]; which is separated from the upper section by a notch 235 and is disposed below the axis 238 and in non-intersecting relation therewith. The integrity of the upper and lower reinforcing tab sections 23411 and 234b is maintained by a very narrow neck portion 234C disposed at the base of the notch and extending between the upper and lower sections along the score line 35. It will be understood that this narrow neck portion is of a width small enough to cause the tab to remain effectively non-adhered to the overlying ap 26 in the formation of the carton tube, but is of sufficient width to maintain the integrity of the entire tab 234. For example, in a one-half gallon container, the reinforcing tab 234 may have an overall length of 3% inches and a Width of approximately 7/8 inch at its widest point, but will have a neck portion typically not in excess of 1A; inch. As will be appreciated, when the glue strip 37 is applied to the front wall panel 17 in the formation of the carton tube, no adhesive will be deposited on the reinforcing tab sections 234a and 234b due to their disposition above and below the axis 238.

The modified carton structure 251 shown in FIG. 14 is erected and sealed in the same fashion as the carton 51 shown in FIGS. 4-6, with the exception that the lower front closing flap 26b has an L-shaped adhesive pattern 40 rather than a straight line pattern a-s shown in FIGS.

1-4. With this particular modification of structure, the reinforcing tabs remain substantially free of the front closing flaps until after closing and sealing at which time the front end closing fla-p will be adhered to the end closing panel 22 in regions beyond the reinforcing flap 234, as well as the upper and lower sections of the reinforcing tab. With thi-s particular structure, improved corner sealing is provided as well as reinforcement of the upper carton structure. It will be clear that the reinforcing flaps 234 and/or the Lshaped adhesive pattern may be incorporated with either of the above-described cartons 51, 151.

The cartons of the invention incorporate many advantageous features, rendering the carton commercially desirable to the packager, to the merchandiser, and to the ultimate consumer. Thus the new and improved cartons incorporate a number of structural features which provide advantageous top opening, sealed end cartons having overall appearances which are attractive to the purchaser and having uninterrupted outer surfaces which enable the brand identification or other information to be presented in an advantageous and desirable manner. For use by the consumer, the filled packages are particularly rugged and durable, resulting in large part from the advantageous provision of the unique reinforcing flaps which, by their special design and construction, can be incorporated in the cartons without adding undue manufacturing expense or introducing difficulties into the closing and sealing operations to be performed by the packager.

Perhaps the most significant feature of the invention resides in the provision, in an ice cream carton of the general type described, including overlying front closing and front end closing panels, of special discontinuous reinforcing tabs at the end edges of the front wall panel. The discontinuous reinforcing tabs are so arranged that the carton blank may be formed and secured in the form of a flattened tube using a continuous adhesive strip across a lower portion -of the front wall panel in alignment with the discontinuities of the reinforcing tabs. The tabs thus remain substantially free of adhesive attachment with the front end closing flaps, at least until the various subsequent folding and erecting operations have been completed. At the same time, certain cartons of the reinforcing tabs which lie above the adhesive strip level are positioned to lie below the upper edge of permanent lower sections of the front end closing flaps, so that tear strip or similar opening means may be provided, and the carton cover opened therewith, without releasing the reinforcing tabs from their assembled engagement with the lower ap sections. In the opened carton, the upwardly projecting portion of the reinforcing tabs serve not only to close the upper front corners -of the carton but also to add desired rigidity to the front wall panel.

In one advantageous form of the invention, the reinforcing tabs are arranged to have their lower edge extremities above the top of the adhesive strip level but below the upper edges of the lower section of the front end closing flaps. In another advantageous form of the invention, the reinforcing tabs are provided with a substantial cut-out aligned with the adhesive strip, so that the adhesive may be applied in a continuous strip, in the usual way without imparting consequential amounts of the adhesive to the reinforcing tabs themselves. With this last described arrangement, the lower portion of the reinforcing tabs may extend t-o the bottom edge of the front wall panel, for improved front bottom corner sealing, while at the same time avoiding significant adhesive attachment between the reinforcing tabs and the overlying flaps.

It should be understood, however, that the specific forms of containers herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, and certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A top opening telescopically reclosable sealed end carton for ice cream and other products, which comprises (a) foldably connected front wall, bottom Wall, back Wall, cover, and front closing panels arranged to form a tube, and full depth end wall panels foldably connected to the end edges of the bottom wall to close the ends of the tube,

(b) said full depth end wall panels and said front wall panels forming full height front and end walls when said cover panel is swung to an open position about a foldable connection with the back wall panel,

(c) said front closing panel being secured over the outer surface of said front wall panel by an adhesive strip continuously applied along a predetermined axis,

(d) end closing, cover forming flaps foldably connected to the end edges of the front closing panel and secured over the outer surfaces of the end wall panels,

(e) rupturable dividing means extending through said end closing panels and said front closing panels and rupturable to substantially free the cover for opening the closing, and

(f) reinforcing tab sections foldably connected to the end edges of the front wall panel and having bottom edges positioned above said adhesive -strip and below the bottom edge of said dividing means,

(g) said tabs being folded and arranged to overlie the end Wall panels and to underlie the end closing aps.

2. The carton of claim 1, in which (a) said reinforcing tabs are secured to said end closing aps independently of said adhesive strip.

3. The carton of claim 1, in which (a) said rupturable dividing means comprises a tear strip integrally connecting upper and lower sections of said front closing panel above said adhesive strip.

4. A top opening, telescopically reclosable sealed end carton for ice cream and other products, which comprises (a) foldably connected front wall, bottom wall, back wall, cover, and front closing panels arranged to form a tube, full depth end Wall panels foldably connected to the end edges of the bottom wall to close the ends of the tube, and cover-forming end flaps foldably connected to the end edges of the cover panel and extending downward over upper edge margins of the end wall panels,

(b) said front closing panel being connected foldably to the front edge of the cover panel and extending downward along the outer surface of the front wall panel to form a substantially continuous outer front surface,

(c) a pair of front end closing aps foldably connected to the end edges of the front closing panel and extending rearward along the outer surfaces of the end wall panels,

(d) -a pair of back end closing aps foldably connected to the end edges of the back wall panel and extending forward along the outer surfaces of the end wall panels,

(e) said front end closing flaps and said front closing panel having divisible upper and lower sections initially joined by a rupturable integral connection,

(f) said front closing panel being secured to said front wall panel by a continuous adhesive strip located in the lower section of the front closing panel,

(g) the upper sections of said front end closing aps being secured to said cover-forming end flaps, and (h) reinforcing tabs foldably connected to the end edges of the front wall panel along portions extending from points near the upper edge of the front 10 rwall panel to points below the upper edges of the lower sections of the front end closing iiaps,

(i) said reinforcing tabs lying between the front end closing flaps and the end wall panels and being held therebetween,

(j) the reinforcing tabs having discontinuities a predetermined distance above the lower edge of said front closing panel and below the upper edges of the lower sections of the front end closing,

(k) said continuous adhesive strip extending across said front wall panel in the region of the discontinuities in said reinforcing tabs.

5. The carton of claim 4, in which (a) the discontinuities in said reinforcing tabs extend from above said adhesive strip to the bottom extremities of said front wall panel.

6. The carton of claim 4, in which (a) the discontinuities in said reinforcing tabs extend from slightly above to slightly below said adhesive strip and divide said tabs into upper and lower sections,

(b) said lower sections extending substantially to the lower extremities of said front wall panel to aid in sealing the lower front corners of the carton.

7. The carton of claim 6, in which (a) said discontinuities are formed by horizontally disposed U-slraped cuts,

(b) Vthe closed ends of said U-shaped cutsbeing spaced slightly from the end edges of said front Wall panel to provide narrow neck portions connecting the 'upper and lower sections of said tabs.

S. The carton of claim 4, in which (a) said front end closing flaps at each end of the carton extend into overlapping relation with and are secured to said back end closing aps, and

(b) said cover end aps are folded into overlying relation with and are secured to the outer surfaces of `said front end closing aps.

9. In an ice cream carton tube having a compound wall comprising inner and outer wall panels adhered together in a face-to-face relation and having inwardly foldable ap-like elements articulated to the ends thereof, the improvement which includes (a) a strip of adhesive means extending the length of the inner wall panels and along a predetermined axis,

(b) the inner one of the flap-like elements being articulated to the end of said inner wall panel on at least one side of the adhesive strip,

(c) said inner element being substantially free of and effectively non-intersecting with said axis,

(d) the outer one of said nap-like elements being articulated to the end of said outer wall panel and being intersected by said axis,

(e) said outer ap-like element having rupturable dividing means located above said axis and in sulbstantial superimposition with said inner flap-like elements.

10. A flattened carton tube including (a) a subjacent first Wall,

(b) a second wall superimposed on said first wall,

(c) said walls being joined by a continuous adhesive strip disposed along a predetermined axis on said subjacent wall,

(d) reinforcing end tabs articulated to the ends of said subjacent wall,

(e) said ilaps being substantially free of and non-intersecting with said axis, and

(f) end flaps articulatedl to said second wall and being intersected by said axis,

(g) said end flaps being divided into upper and lower separate sections,

(h) said lower sections overlying said tabs above said ax1s.

11. A top opening, telescopically reclosable sealed end carton for ice cream and other products, which cornprises,

(a) foldably connected front wall, bottom Wall, back wall and top panels arranged to form a tube, and end Wall panels foldably connected to the end edges of the bottom wall to close the ends of the tube,

'(b) said end Wall panels and said front Wall panels for-ming full-height front and end walls When said top panel is swung to an open position about a foldable connection with the back wall panel,

(c) a front-closing panel secured over the outer surface of said front wall panel, along a predetermined axis,

(d) end-closing, cover-forming aps foldably connected to-the end `edges of the front-closing panel and secured over the outer surfaces of the end wall panels, and

(e) reinforcing flaps foldably connected to the end edges of the front wall panel above said predetermined axis only and folded and arranged to overlie the end wall panels and to underlie the enclclosing, cover-forming aps.

12. The carton of claim 11, in which v(a) said reinforcing iiaps are secured to said endclosing flaps.

13. The carton of claim-11, in which (a) said front-closing panel is secured to the front Wall panel by an adhesive strip extending continuously across the lower portion of the front wall panel and coextensively with said axis, and

(b) said reinforcing flaps have lower edge extremities located above the upper extremity of said adhesive strip.

14. The carton of claim 13, in which ,(a) said front-closing panel is foldably connected to the front edge of said top panel, and

(b) rupturable dividing means integrally connects upper and lower sections of said front-closing panel between said front edge and said adhesive strip.

References Cited by the Examiner JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

Assistant Examiners. 

4. A TOP OPENING, TELESCOPICALLY RECLOSABLE SEALED END CARTON FOR ICE CREAM AND OTHER PRODUCTS, WHICH COMPRISES (A) FOLDABLY CONNECTED FRONT WALL, BOTTOM WALL, BACK WALL, COVER, AND FRONT CLOSING PANELS ARRANGED TO FORM A TUBE, FULL DEPTH END PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF THE BOTTOM WALL TO CLOSE THE ENDS OF THE TUBE, AND COVERFORMING END FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF THE COVER PANEL AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD OVER UPPER EDGE MARGINS OF THE END WALL PANELS, (B) SAID FRONT CLOSING PANEL BEING CONNECTED FOLDABLY TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE COVER PANEL AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD ALONG THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS OUTER FRONT SURFACE, (C) A PAIR OF FRONT END CLOSING FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF THE FRONT CLOSING PANEL AND EXTENDING REARWARD ALONG THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE END WALL PANELS, (D) A PAIR OF BACK END CLOSING FLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF THE BACK WALL PANEL AND EXTENDING FORWARD ALONG THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE END WALL PANELS, (E) SAID FRONT END CLOSING FLAPS AND SAID FRONT CLOSING PANEL HAVING DIVISIBLE UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS INITIALLY JOINTED BY A RUPTURABLE INTEGRAL CONNECTION (F) SAID FRONT CLOSING PANEL BEING SECURED TO SAID FRONT WALL PANEL BY A CONTINUOUS ADHESIVE STRIP LOCATED IN THE LOWER SECTION OF THE FRONT CLOSING PANEL, (G) THE UPPER SECTIONS OF SAID FRONT END CLOSING FLAPS BEING SECURED TO SAID COVER-FORMING END FLAPS, AND (H) REINFORCING TABS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE END EDGES OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL ALONG PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM POINTS NEAR THE UPPER EDGE OF THE FRONT WALL PANEL TO POINTS BELOW THE UPPER EDGES OF THE LOWER SECTIONS OF THE FRONT END CLOSING FLAPS, (I) SAID REINFORCING TABS LYING BETWEEN THE FRONT END CLOSING FLAPS AND THE END WALL PANELS AND BEING HELD THEREBETWEEN, (J) THE REINFORCING TABS HAVING DISCONTINUITIES A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID FRONT CLOSING PANEL AND BELOW THE UPPER EDGES OF THE LOWER SECTIONS OF THE FRONT END CLOSING, (K) SAID CONTINUOUS ADHESIVE STRIP EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FRONT WALL PANEL IN THE REGION OF THE DISCONTINUITIES IN SAID REINFORCING TABS. 